Askew deserving 'Superdog' status

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third in a four-part series of articles related to the area's high school football programs from a spring/off-season perspective

By TOM HALLIBURTON

Port Arthur News Sports Writer

NEDERLAND -- Introducing a new hit movie arriving in Mid-County this fall -- Superdog.

Faster than a speeding corner... more powerful than your wide receiver... able to outleap tall defenders in a single bound.

It's a bird... it's a plane... it's Jake Askew.

The Nederlanders knew the 2001 graduation of Sean Yoder had to slow them down a bit, but they never knew a Yoder clone could arrive a season later and shatter many of Yoder's marks.

Jake, you did good, buddy.

Askew earned Port Arthur News Super Team recognition at Christmas and continued to receive extremely lofty accolades from 50-something-year-old Nederland boss Larry Neumann during the off-season.

A former Thomas Jefferson assistant in his much younger days, Neumann remembers how Brent Duhon even would catch passes which Todd Dodge would be trying to throw away.

To place Askew on plateaus with Duhon and Yoder... well, that's lofty stuff from Larry.

"The guy can really be a difference-maker on both sides of the ball," Neumann said. "Jake reminds me of the great moves Duhon used to make in the days of Dodge and Duhon.

"For flat-out speed, he's not as fast as Yoder, but he can make you miss. He has great moves after catches the ball and he has the ability to play defense.... Plus, he's got that great ability to play defense."

A two-year standout receiver, Askew proved his value as an all-district sophomore, but that evolved in a supporting actor's task adjacent to Yoder. When Yoder departed, Askew assumed the leading actor's role. As his senior year approaches, it's time for... duh-duh-duh-duh.... Superdog.

Askew's pass-and-catch battery mate likely will be Kirk Dean (6-2, 185), a junior in the fall with a 2-0 varsity record as a starting quarterback. Dean filled in after William Delage departed the Vidor game with an injury. He guided the Dogs to important back-to-back non-league wins against Dayton and Brazosport.

Neumann undoubtedly feels more confident in Dean's abilities to handle the job thanks to that early juncture of last season.

"It's a huge psychological boost for Kirk to be 2-0 as a starter and he gained confidence from that," Neumann said. "He has excellent speed and quickness and a great arm. He really came into his own in the Brazosport game and showed great leadership."

If Askew reminds Neumann of former TJ All-America receiver Duhon, junior-to-be running back Daniel Tompkins brings back memories of former NHS star running back Dustin Driskell.

The most seasoned of Nederland's offensive linemen undoubtedly will be senior-to-be Tyler Nemeth. But Nemeth (6-3, 240) seems to keep moving from one place to another. Tyler played tight end as a sophomore, strong offensive tackle as a junior and who knows this fall. Right now, Neumann projects Nemeth to start at strong offensive guard.

"Tyler is quick and tenacious," Neumann said. "He's become more coachable. He's a multi-talented individual."

An awfully capable receiver and defensive back, Josh Atterberry delivered a superb sophomore year last fall and possessed excellent talent to blossom further as a junior. The Bulldogs coaches also hope that Nick Louviere can return from last year's early season neck injury and make a prominent contribution with Atterberry.

"I think there's a chance we can average 230 or so across the front which is big for us," Neumann said. "Our kicking game with Josh Waite and Curtis Parks should be real good. And our leadership and chemistry is always important to our success. It already has developed to some point but it has to continue to grow."

The defensive leaders likely will be linebackers Chase Gentile (from sam to will LB), Johnnie Pittman (at the sam backer) and John Tobias in a linebacker role. But Neumann and defensive wizard Delbert Spell are hunting for defensive line candidates as well as a new Superdog to replace one of Nederland's all-time greatest Superdogs, Michael Boyd at the bandit linebacker job.

Only a true Superdog can handle a chore that demanding... Very few of them exist... but Jake Askew appears to be one of them.